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Heavyspender
Published on 04/23/08 at 13:09
This is a tube microphone preamp. It comes with a 12ax7 tube. Because it has tube technology, I bought this to add some warmth to my live rig. It has 1/4 inch inputs and output as well as a balanced XLR input and output. This means you pretty much have a stereo input and output capability with this unit. You can also go direct with an XLR input into a mixing board with this unit. I would call it rackable, as it is definitely not a floor unit. It is very small, so it can go on top of your rack, but also on top of your amp,preamp, power amp, or speakers.
UTILIZATION
The configuration is fairly simple. There is an input and output knob. There are also buttons for gain, p.power, phase reverse and OPL. Basically, you turn the input knob to adjust the volume of your input, and turn the input knob to adjust your output volume. The effect of both can be heard through your speakers. The manual is clear and sufficient. There is really nothing much to this unit to understand.
SOUND QUALITY
I bought this preamplifier to add more warmth to my rig, as my Fender Stage 185 tends to have a harsh treble. So I really did buy this unit to "color" my signal in that respect. Unfortunately, I have to realize that this is a microphone preamp, so running my guitar through my pedals, then through this unit before going to the board will not make my "house" tone sound good. As a matter of fact, it sounded very weak. So I broke down the next week and mic'd my amp then sent that signal through this unit, then to the mixing board, and I sounded much better through the house speakers. Don't know for sure if I sounded warmer than through my amp, but at least the sound through the house was decent. I think this unit will also make miking my acoustic guitar sound great.
OVERALL OPINION
I have had this unit for about 2 months. I like the fact that you can go direct to the house. Unfortunately, you have to go direct with a microphone, so technically, you're not going direct anyway. I do like having an xlr and 1/4 output, so I really have a stereo capability there, so I can add yet another amp to my rig. (Forget bi-amping or even tri-amping, I want to quad-amp!) Also having "stereo" inputs allows me to put my electric through the 1/4 inch input, and a microphone for my acoustic guitar through the xlr input, without having to switch around instruments, inputs, cables, etc. It's great for microphones, but this is NOT a guitar preamp. (Obviously!) This is the only model I tried because it was the specific model I needed for my needs. For $39, I don't regret my choice at all, because it has its uses
UTILIZATION
The configuration is fairly simple. There is an input and output knob. There are also buttons for gain, p.power, phase reverse and OPL. Basically, you turn the input knob to adjust the volume of your input, and turn the input knob to adjust your output volume. The effect of both can be heard through your speakers. The manual is clear and sufficient. There is really nothing much to this unit to understand.
SOUND QUALITY
I bought this preamplifier to add more warmth to my rig, as my Fender Stage 185 tends to have a harsh treble. So I really did buy this unit to "color" my signal in that respect. Unfortunately, I have to realize that this is a microphone preamp, so running my guitar through my pedals, then through this unit before going to the board will not make my "house" tone sound good. As a matter of fact, it sounded very weak. So I broke down the next week and mic'd my amp then sent that signal through this unit, then to the mixing board, and I sounded much better through the house speakers. Don't know for sure if I sounded warmer than through my amp, but at least the sound through the house was decent. I think this unit will also make miking my acoustic guitar sound great.
OVERALL OPINION
I have had this unit for about 2 months. I like the fact that you can go direct to the house. Unfortunately, you have to go direct with a microphone, so technically, you're not going direct anyway. I do like having an xlr and 1/4 output, so I really have a stereo capability there, so I can add yet another amp to my rig. (Forget bi-amping or even tri-amping, I want to quad-amp!) Also having "stereo" inputs allows me to put my electric through the 1/4 inch input, and a microphone for my acoustic guitar through the xlr input, without having to switch around instruments, inputs, cables, etc. It's great for microphones, but this is NOT a guitar preamp. (Obviously!) This is the only model I tried because it was the specific model I needed for my needs. For $39, I don't regret my choice at all, because it has its uses